With his opponent injured and clearly in trouble, Silva unloaded a big overhand right that set up in a first-round TKO victory in Friday’s UFC on FX 5 heavyweight headliner.

The bout took place at Minneapolis’ Target Center, and it aired on FX following preliminary-card bouts on FUEL TV.

The matchup featured two heavyweights headed in different directions. Browne looked to continue his undefeated run through the pro ranks and break into the division’s elite. Silva simply hoped to avoid a third straight loss and a possible contract termination.

A confident Browne struck first with kicks but settled down and regrouped when Silva’s big fists quickly countered him. “Bigfoot” then pushed his opponent into the cage, which resulted in the ref issuing a warning to Browne when he reached over the cage and used the illegal move to spin out of the clinch.

Then, when stepping forward with a punch, Browne clearly injured his left leg. Sensing an opportunity, Silva went on the offensive, walked the hobbled Browne into the cage, and then unloaded a big overhand right that scored an instant knockdown. Browne fell to his knees and never recovered, and Silva unloaded punches and hammerfists to force the referee’s intervention.

The stoppage came at the 3:27 mark of the first round.

After the win, an emotional Silva thanked family, friends and especially his training partners.

“Thanks to everyone from ATT, and thanks to Team Nogueira,” he said.

Silva (17-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had suffered a Strikeforce loss to Daniel Cormier and a UFC-debut defeat to Cain Velasquez in his two previous bouts. He picks up his first win since an upset of Fedor Emelianenko in early 2011.

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